Hordes of motorists sounded their horns and shouted messages of support to the demonstrators who gathered at 8.20am for a noisy but peaceful protest.

The residents want health ministers and primary care trust bosses to immediately scrap plans for the controversial hospital, which they say would put families at risk of attack and create fear.

Coun Shafique Shah (Lab, Bordesley Green), has presented a 3,000-name petition against the hospital to the PCT and Patricia Hewitt.

He said: "The residents are very angry. They are concerned that it is a family area. They are not angry about mental health units but for the safety of the residents and the patients. It should not be here."

"This community is very angered about this decision. We were not consulted, they only wanted to consult us about how high the trees should be and wildlife. That's not good enough.

"I have said over and over again that we are not happy about this. This is our first demonstration on a big scale and we are planning more."

The protesters have joined forces with an off-shoot of the Church of Scientology movement to fight the decision.

Brian Daniels, from the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, said: "These people have a very pertinent point because they are concerned about the dangers of what is going on in psychiatric units.

"It is a medium secure unit, it is not high secure - what does that mean? Will they be walking on the streets having been given drugs?"

A statement from the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust said the medium secure unit would provide a much needed facility for local men.

It said: "Currently these men are being treated miles away from their families and friends, due to the lack of services within the local area.

"The local NHS organisations involved in the development are committed to ongoing engagement with local communities where they can continue to shape the development of the site and share any concerns they may have."

The demonstrators are planning to picket Sophia Christie, Chief Executive of Eastern Birmingham PCT on June 15 outside Birmingham City Council house.